National Parks for a New Century: Statement of Joint Principles

The National Park Principles convey strong, widespread, nonpartisan support for the national parks and related conservation, historic preservation, and recreation programs to national leaders, and define common ground for leaders, advocates, philanthropists and park partners. The principles are designed to have a lengthy life, to be compelling, and to provide a philosophical framework that guides the separate action agenda that emerged from America’s Summit on National Parks. The principles focus on “high level” concepts designed to lay the groundwork for specific policy propositions, philanthropic approaches and partnership efforts. They are intended to be sufficiently specific to be used to support key action items and to enable efforts at accountability, consistent with the breadth of support their supporters exemplify. They are designed to highlight the broad appeal of our national parks.